The MXR Gran Torino Boost Overdrive is a two-in-one gain pedal from MXR that uses MOSFET transistors to, in the maker's words, "amplify and enrich the natural sound of your rig with the warm, organic sound of classic tube amps, from clean boosting with rich sustain to smooth, mellow overdrive"1. A BOOST/OD switch selects between a cleaner boost mode and an overdrive mode, and a three-band EQ lets you shape the result to fit your amp and the rest of your board2. It arrived in 2024 as a limited edition, and MXR now lists it as a legacy product that is no longer in production342.
A MOSFET boost and overdrive in one
The Gran Torino's core idea is MOSFET clipping. MXR says the pedal "harnesses MOSFET technology to amplify and enrich the natural sound of your rig"2, and Guitar World described the design as recruiting "MOSFET tech in an attempt to harness tube preamp gain structures"4. In practice, MOSFET transistors are used in place of diodes or op-amp clipping to recreate the gain structure of classic tube preamps, the same approach MXR used in the original Il Torino Overdrive of 201478.
Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson called it "a really handy / multi-purpose warm sounding MOSFET circuit Boost / Overdrive pedal" and, with its three-band EQ, "a supremely versatile front of chain gain machine"9. That front-of-chain role is where a pedal like this usually sits: it can push an amp harder, add warmth and sustain, or serve as a light overdrive on its own.
Boost and OD modes
The BOOST/OD switch selects the output mode. MXR describes the two sides as "Boost for cleaner notes and rich sustain, OD for smooth, mellow overdrive"2. The manual adds detail: "Boost Mode provides a slightly cleaner sound with more headroom," while "OD Mode provides rich, natural compression and tubey saturation"1. The switch toggles between Boost (switch out, blue LED) and OD (switch in, red LED)1.
The rest of the control set:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| GAIN | Sets the gain level2 |
| MASTER | Increases or decreases overall effect volume1 |
| BASS | Boosts or cuts low frequencies, ±9 dB at 40 Hz1 |
| MID | Cuts or boosts midrange frequencies, ±5.5 dB at 600 Hz1 |
| TREBLE | Boosts or cuts high frequencies, ±6.5 dB at 10 kHz1 |
| BOOST/OD switch | Selects output mode: Boost (blue LED) or OD (red LED)1 |
| FOOTSWITCH | Toggles the effect on and bypass, blue LED indicates on1 |
That three-band EQ is the Gran Torino's main shaping tool. MXR pitches it as a way to "fine-tune it all with the 3-band EQ" to complement your setup2, and the cut-or-boost midrange control in particular gives it more tonal flexibility than a straight two-knob boost.
Power and specifications
The Gran Torino runs on 9V DC and draws only 9mA, light enough for any isolated power supply or even a daisy chain15. It can also be powered by a single 9-volt battery, installed by removing the bottom plate, or by a 9-volt AC adapter such as the Dunlop ECB003/ECB003EU or an MXR Brick Series power supply1. The bypass is buffered, not true bypass1.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Circuit type | Analog5 |
| Bypass | Buffered1 |
| Power supply | 9V DC1 |
| Current draw | 9mA5 |
| Gain range | 20 dB to 57 dB at 1 kHz1 |
| Distortion gain | 34 dB to 67 dB at 1 kHz1 |
| Input impedance | 2.4 MΩ at 1 kHz1 |
| Output impedance | 24 kΩ max1 |
| Nominal output level | -17 dBV A-weighted, controls at mid1 |
| Noise floor | -100 dBV A-weighted, controls at mid1 |
Where it came from: the Il Torino connection
The Gran Torino is a reworking of an earlier MXR pedal. Gearnews described it as "the successor to the popular Il Torino from the in-house custom shop"3, and the Il Torino Overdrive joined the MXR Custom Shop showroom in November 2014, using the same MOSFET approach to recreate classic tube preamp gain structures78. It carried a BOOST/OD switch of its own to toggle between Boost Mode and OD Mode8.
MusicRadar's Rob Laing called the Gran Torino "a relaunch of that pedal with a new colour, design and name tweak," noting the Il Torino was no longer listed in the MXR lineup6. Guitar World likewise referred to "the now-discontinued Il Torino" and confirmed the Gran Torino was a limited edition4. The visible change is cosmetic: Guitar Pedal X described the new "very attractive racing stripes look" on the enclosure9.
The Gran Torino is a limited edition and is now listed by MXR as a legacy product, no longer in production24. Anyone wanting one new is looking at remaining retailer stock.
On pricing, the sources differ. MusicRadar reported at the January 2024 announcement that "The MXR Gran Torino will retail at $149"6, while Guitar Pedal X saw UK listings at £169 and assumed a US price of around $1699. Gearnews listed the price as TBC with availability from May 20243.
What reviewers said
Published coverage of the Gran Torino was largely news-focused. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson, who had considered the original Il Torino when it was current, wrote of the new version9:
"I did consider getting the Il Torino back in the day - so this goes down on the nice-to-have list9."
Guitar Pedal X, Stefan Karlsson9
He also speculated on construction, suggesting the new version was likely a full SMT build, with the earlier Custom Shop version possibly more through-hole in construction9. The original Il Torino earned a Premier Guitar review noting its "Switchable boost/OD functions"10, a feature carried straight into the Gran Torino.
For players comparing it against other MXR overdrives, the Gran Torino sits in a crowded lineup that includes the MXR GT-OD, the MXR Sugar Drive, the MXR Duke of Tone and the MXR Super Badass Dynamic Overdrive, alongside its own predecessor, the MXR Il Torino Overdrive. Its distinguishing features are the MOSFET circuit, the switchable boost and overdrive modes, and the three-band EQ in one box329.
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Questions
Is the MXR Gran Torino discontinued?
Yes. MXR lists the Gran Torino Boost Overdrive as a legacy product that is no longer in production. It launched around May 2024 as a limited edition, so remaining stock is whatever retailers still hold.
Is the Gran Torino true bypass?
No. The manual lists the bypass as buffered, so a buffer circuit stays in the signal path when the pedal is off. That keeps it a good fit early in a long pedalboard chain, though players who want true bypass everywhere will note the difference.
What is the difference between the MXR Il Torino and Gran Torino?
The Gran Torino is essentially the Il Torino relaunched with a new name, color and racing-stripes finish. Both use MOSFET transistors and share the Boost/OD switch and three-band EQ. The Il Torino was a Custom Shop pedal from late 2014; the Gran Torino arrived in 2024 and is no longer listed alongside it.
How much current does the MXR Gran Torino draw?
It draws 9mA at 9V DC, which is very light. It can also run on a single 9-volt battery installed under the bottom plate, or on a 9-volt adapter such as the Dunlop ECB003 or an MXR Brick Series power supply.
Sources (10)
- CSP033G.pdf, Jim Dunlop, 2024
- MXR® GRAN TORINO™ BOOST OVERDRIVE, Jim Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
- MXR Gran Torino Boost Overdrive & Way Huge Geisha Drive, gearnews.com, 2024-01-29
- NAMM 2024: “Organic boosting that you can tweak to match any rig”: MXR has brought back its Torino overdrive with a flash new chassis, Guitar World, 2024-01-29
- Gran Torino Boost Overdrive by MXR, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- NAMM 2024: "For organic boosting and goosing that you can tweak to match any rig", MusicRadar, 2024-01-26
- MXR Introduces the Il Torino Overdrive, Premier Guitar, 2014-11-14
- MXR Il Torino Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2014-11-24
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-01-29
- MXR Il Torino Boost/Overdrive Review: Quick Hit, Premier Guitar, 2015-02-06
